I setup my first Quad Core processor [1] computer today. It wasn't for me, unfortunately, but I was impressed with the machine. My client ordered a Dell XPS Intel Quad Core machine with 4 GB of RAM and Windows XP. It was easily the fastest computer I have seen to date. With all that RAM, a 256mb video card, and the new Intel Quad Core processor everthing literally flew on this machine. One example is Adobe Photoshop Elements version 5. On most computers with 512 to 1 GB of Ram, Elements takes between 30-60 seconds to fully load. On this mahine today, it loaded in less than 10 seconds. I was floored.

Installing programs like AVG antivirus took less than a minute. Office 2003 programs opened almost instantly and copying files from a CD drive or flash drive both finished quickly as well. I found myself wondering (for the first time) what Vista would run like on a system like this.

I didn't ask the customer how much she paid for the computer, but I can tell you that it wasn't less than $1,200. The extra RAM and high end processor pushed the price up from a more standard dual core processor found in most low and mid-range priced computers today. If you need speed to spare, I think you won't be disappointed with a quad core processor suplemented with lots of RAM.

For a definition of quad core processors, visit the link that I put in the first line of this post.

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